Exclusive: Rick Pitino tells us why he left Iona for St. John's & what he told his players

As rumors surrounding Rick Pitino mounted up over the last few weeks, the answer regarding his coaching future finally came.

After three years at Iona, Pitino will return to the Big East and start a new chapter at St. John's.

"It was actually a very difficult decision for me, because it reminded me of Providence College, and my three years here went by so quick, so fast," Pitino told lohud.com, part of the USA TODAY Network, on Monday. "We continued to win like the past, but we changed an awful lot physically, and we changed an awful lot academically. We're real proud of that, but it was still very difficult for me to leave.

"It's a special place I've grown extremely fond of, and it was a difficult choice even though it's the Big East."

Pitino previously coached in the Big East for Providence in 1985-87, as well as Louisville from 2001-17.

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When did St. John's contact Pitino?

St. John's fired head coach Mike Anderson on March 10, shortly after the Red Storm's elimination in the Big East Tournament.

The Red Storm went 68-56 overall and 30-46 in Big East play under Anderson.

"When the job opened, they spoke to my agent and my agent told them, 'Look, he's just going to focus on playing Connecticut, when it's over, he'd be glad to come to campus and speak to you,'" Pitino said.

As St. John's missed the NCAA Tournament for the fourth year in a row under Anderson, Iona won its second MAAC Tournament title under Pitino. The 13th-seeded Gaels lost to fourth-seeded UConn, 87-63, in Friday's opening round action.

"The campus is very large, very pretty," said Pitino, who visited St. John's on Sunday. "Their facilities are just OK, nothing great, but it's the Big East. It's St. John's reputation. I coached against Louie Carnesecca back in the day and the Big East is something special. The only reason I left Iona is I wanted to go to a multi-bid league. I liked the MAAC, I liked the coaches, I liked the competition, but I just don't like the one-bid league."

Pitino on why Iona wasn't his final stop

Pitino, who previously stated Iona would be his final coaching stop before retirement, claims those were his original intentions.

"I didn't know St. John's was going to open, I wasn't going to move, so I did believe it was my final stop," Pitino said. "Then, something came up where I didn't have to move. The difference-maker was, last year, I spent the whole summer not in misery, but just really upset that we won 25 games and we weren't an NCAA (Tournament) team because we all live for the NCAAs.

"Now, if you don't have a great year, you don't deserve to be in the NCAA, but in a one-bid league, there's no advantage in winning the league. You don't get a home-court game like some of the other conferences, it's just thrown up in the air, and the regular season really doesn't matter as much."

Pitino also notes he'll still get to reside at his house on Winged Foot Golf Club, but instead of an eight-minute drive, it'll be a 35-minute commute to St. John's, plus he will stay over at on-campus housing on days where he stays late.

What did Pitino tell his Iona players?

Pitino, who officially made his decision on Monday afternoon, broke the news to his players shortly after.

"I told them, 'I don't coach you for one year, two years or three years, I coach you for the rest of my life,'" Pitino said. "My players are my life, it's not the years they're just with me. It's a lifetime for me and I'll always be there, they don't have to ever worry about that. I thanked them for everything they've given me and they've given me an awful lot."

The Gaels went 64-22 overall and 40-9 in the MAAC over Pitino's three years. They won MAAC regular season titles in each of the last two years, and MAAC Tournament titles in 2021 and 2023.

On the Gaels' roster, Berrick JeanLouis is the only player out of eligibility, 13 others are set to return if they choose.

Assistants Bob Walsh and Steve Masiello are expected to follow Pitino.

"It's very exciting, but there's a part of me that's a little somber because I'm leaving my players and I'm leaving a great place," Pitino said. "The president and the AD have been nothing but awesome to me. They've gone out of their way to make me feel special, so I'm going to miss all that, but on the other hand, I'm very excited and very thrilled to be a part of the Big East once again."

Pitino on St. John's and the future

Pitino has experience coaching at Madison Square Garden, where the Red Storm play a portion of home games. He previously coached there in the NBA with the New York Knicks and as a visitor with the Boston Celtics. He also coached there at the collegiate level in the Big East and NCAA tournaments.

"They've been down for a long time, and I would not have taken this job if I didn't think I would make the brand and the culture something special," Pitino said of St. John's.

"The (fans) will see a very entertaining team right away. They're gonna see a culture that they're very proud of, no different than Iona, no different than Providence, Kentucky or Louisville."

Follow Eugene Rapay on Twitter at @erapay5 and on Instagram at @byeugenerapay.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rick Pitino leaves Iona basketball to be coach at St. John's